Scottish Parliament

Written Answers

Thursday 9 December 1999

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been received in Scotland from the Common Agricultural Policy in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Ross Finnie: The table below shows, for the last five years, spending by the Scottish Executive on CAP on-farm payment schemes and Accompanying Measures (Agri-environment and Farm Woodlands). The figures in the table also includes spending on schemes which are permitted under the CAP and are in operation throughout the EU such as the LFA schemes. Details of this spending are not held on a local authority area basis.

  £ million

  


1994-95 
  


1995-96 
  


1996-97 
  


1997-98 
  


1998-99 
  




427 
  

500 
  

495 
  

487 
  

500

Children

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to conduct an audit of local authorities to ensure that they are carrying out their statutory requirements under sections 29 and 30 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive has commissioned research into the extent and effectiveness of local authority throughcare and aftercare arrangements, as governed by sections 29 and 30 of the 1995 Act. The study is being conducted by the University of York and all local authorities have agreed to participate. It began in September and will take two years to complete.

Concordats

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish further bilateral Concordats between departments of Her Majesty’s Government and UK agencies and their counterparts or contacts in the Scottish Executive.

Mr Tom McCabe: The following bilateral Concordats are being published today:

  Ministry of Defence

  Lord Chancellor’s Department

  Home Office

  HM Treasury

  Department of Social Security

  Department of Health

  A Concordat will also be published today on the responsibilities for European Structural Funds.

  The texts have been made available to the Parliament and are available in the Document Supply Centre and on the Executive’s web site.

Culture

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2468 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 24 November 1999, under what specific budget headings savings will be identified in order to find the £2.1 million to fund its rescue package for Scottish Opera.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The package to assist Scottish Opera will be met by savings resulting from the phasing out of the Assisted Places Scheme and unallocated provision as a consequence of end-year flexibility arrangements.

Education

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to investigate the funding of the Business Learning Zone at Central College of Commerce in Glasgow and, if so, whether it will provide further details.

Henry McLeish: There are no plans to investigate the funding of this project.

Education

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers it acceptable for a college or university to use monies from student fees to fund facilities that are not primarily for the use of students.

Henry McLeish: Tuition fees represent one of a number of income streams of further and higher education institutions. Both colleges and universities are autonomous bodies. It is for individual institutions to allocate the funding available to them as they see fit.

Education

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will examine the possibility of Ashcraig Secondary School, a special secondary school for children with a physical impairment, being considered for Public Private Partnership Funding.

Peter Peacock: Ashcraig Secondary School is under the management of Glasgow City Council as education authority. It would be for the authority to consider the need for such funding.

Education

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people were excluded from school in academic years 1997-98 and 1998-99 and how many have been excluded to date in this academic year.

Peter Peacock: 23 pupils were permanently excluded from primary schools and 92 from secondary schools in 1997-98; 25 pupils were excluded from primary schools and 104 from secondary schools in 1998-99. The rate of temporary exclusions from primary schools was seven half days in 1997-98 and nine in 1998-99; for secondary schools the rate was 90 in 1997-98 and 96 in 1998-99. Figures for the current academic year will only be collected retrospectively.

Employment

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote "family friendly" employment policies within the business community in Scotland as part of the Childcare Strategy for Scotland.

Peter Peacock: Family friendly employment is key to allowing people to achieve a balance between home and family life. The Scottish Executive is in contact with Her Majesty’s Government on a wide range of issues including proposals for a campaign on a UK basis. This will complement the progress we are making in expanding the provision of affordable, accessible, quality childcare.

Energy

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual budget is for research into renewable energy and what these funds are spent on.

Sarah Boyack: Research into renewable energy in the UK is a reserved matter, and is funded by the Department of Trade and Industry.

Health

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it agrees with the view expressed by Shetland Health Board in recent evidence to the Health and Community Care Committee that there should be a new national policy on prescribing Beta Interferon and, if so, what plans it has to introduce such a policy.

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate the distribution of Beta Interferon and end "postcode medicine".

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Health Technology Assessment Centre (SHTAC), which will begin operation in spring 2000, will act as a single focus for advice on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of new health technologies, including drugs. It is likely that SHTAC will be asked to consider Beta Interferon as an early priority.

  In the period before SHTAC is established, current local arrangements will continue to operate. The Area Drug and Therapeutic Committees, which operate in every Health Board area, will continue to advise prescribers and Boards about the effectiveness of drugs, including Beta Interferon.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which health boards offer post-exposure prophylaxis to members of the public who may have been exposed to HIV.

Iain Gray: It is for individual clinicians to decide whether to offer post-exposure prophylaxis taking account of the circumstances of each case.

Local Government

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for Ministers to visit local authorities such as Aberdeenshire to discuss in detail the recommendations of the McIntosh Report.

Mr Frank McAveety: I gave a commitment that I would visit all Scottish local authorities to discuss McIntosh issues. So far, I have had constructive discussions with Councillors, officers and community representatives in 25 councils. Visits to other councils are being arranged and I am looking forward to visiting Aberdeenshire in the near future.

Police

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns about the current funding arrangements for Scottish police pensions.

Mr Jim Wallace: Public sector pensions are a reserved matter and policy responsibility for police pensions lies with the Home Office. Consultation documents setting out options for changes in the police (and fire service) pension schemes including changes in contribution rates and funding were published by the Home Office in March 1998. The responses to the consultation are still under consideration. Any changes to the regulations covering the police service pension scheme would be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.

Police

John Young (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline its policy on the policing of Scotland.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive’s policies are set out in the Partnership for Scotland and Making it Work Together documents. These confirm our commitment to a strong and effective police service rooted in the communities which they serve.

Prison Service

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the total number of prisons in Scotland in each year from 1979 until 1999 and the projected number of prisons in future years.

Mr Jim Wallace: Prison or Young Offender Institution sites

  


1979 until 1998 
  

19 
  



1999 
  

20 
  



2000 
  

17

Prison Service

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive to specify, in 1999 prices, the total amount of funding available to prisons in Scotland in each year from 1979 to 1999, the amount of funding to be made available in all future years for which figures are available, and the percentage increase or decrease in funding both year-on-year and over the entire period.

Mr Jim Wallace: The total amount of funding (at 1998-99 prices) available to prisons in Scotland in each year from 1978-79 to 2001-02 is shown below. The percentage year-on-year change is also shown. The total percentage increase over the whole period is 178%.

  


Year 


£’000 
  


% Change 
  




1978-79 
  

70,487 
  






1979-80 
  

76,766 
  

8.91% 
  



1980-81 
  

86,292 
  

12.41% 
  



1981-82 
  

90,194 
  

4.52% 
  



1982-83 
  

84,814 
  

-5.97% 
  



1983-84 
  

96,546 
  

13.83% 
  



1984-85 
  

102,879 
  

6.56% 
  



1985-86 
  

101,498 
  

-1.34% 
  



1986-87 
  

104,613 
  

3.07% 
  



1987-88 
  

127,687 
  

22.06% 
  



1988-89 
  

136,122 
  

6.61% 
  



1989-90 
  

138,111 
  

1.46% 
  



1990-91 
  

135,372 
  

-1.98% 
  



1991-92 
  

147,167 
  

8.71% 
  



1992-93 
  

158,618 
  

7.78% 
  



1993-94 
  

178,849 
  

12.75% 
  



1994-95 
  

185,283 
  

3.60% 
  



1995-96 
  

182,128 
  

-1.70% 
  



1996-97 
  

191,627 
  

5.22% 
  



1997-98 
  

191,014 
  

-0.32% 
  



1998-99 
  

190,623 
  

-0.20% 
  



1999-2000 
  

210,535 
  

10.45% 
  



2000-01 
  

199,866 
  

-5.07% 
  



2001-02 
  

195,923 
  

-1.97% 
  



  Notes:

  1. The figures are based on the Appropriation Accounts.

  

The percentage 
  change calculation does not take account of expenditure re-classifications 
  during this period.



  Figures have been restated to 1998-99 prices using GDP Deflators as at November 1999.

Prison Service

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the total prison population in Scotland in each year from 1979 until 1999, the projected prison population in all future years for which figures are available and the increase or decrease in the prison population both year-on-year and over the entire period.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is given below:

  Average daily population and projected population in all Scottish penal establishments 1979-2004

  


Year 


Number 
  


Percentage change 
  on previous year1 




1979 
  

4,585 
  






1980 
  

4,860 
  

6.0 
  



1981 
  

4,518 
  

-7.0 
  



1982 
  

4,891 
  

8.3 
  



1983 
  

5,052 
  

3.3 
  



1984 
  

4,753 
  

-5.9 
  



1985 
  

5,273 
  

10.9 
  



1986 
  

5,587 
  

6.0 
  



1987 
  

5,446 
  

-2.5 
  



1988 
  

5,229 
  

-4.0 
  



1989 
  

4,986 
  

-4.6 
  



1990 
  

4,724 
  

-5.3 
  



1991 
  

4,839 
  

2.4 
  



1992 
  

5,257 
  

8.6 
  



1993 
  

5,637 
  

7.2 
  



1994 
  

5,585 
  

-0.9 
  



1995 
  

5,626 
  

0.7 
  



1996 
  

5,862 
  

4.2 
  



1997 
  

6,084 
  

3.8 
  



1998 (prov) 
  

6,018 
  

-1.1 
  



Projections 
  



1999 
  

6,100 
  

1.0 
  



2000 
  

6,200 
  

1.8 
  



2001 
  

6,300 
  

1.9 
  



2002 
  

6,500 
  

2.9 
  



2003 
  

6,700 
  

3.0 
  



2004 
  

6,900 
  

3.4 
  



  Notes

  1. Calculated using unrounded numbers

  Between 1979 and 1998, the prison population increased by 31.3%.

Prison Service

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the total number of prison places available in Scotland in each year from 1979 until 1999 and the projected number of prison places available in all future years for which figures are available and the percentage increase or decrease both year-on-year and over the entire period.

Mr Jim Wallace: Year 


Available Prisoner 
  Places 


Percentage Increase 
  (+)/ Decrease(-) Year on Year 


Overall Percentage 
  Increase 




1998-99 
  

5,852 (actual) 
  

- 
  

+5.7 
  



1999-2000 
  

6,384 (forecast) 
  

+9.1 
  

+5.7 
  



2000-01 
  

6,161 
  

-3.6 
  

+5.7 
  



2001-02 
  

6,183 
  

+0.4 
  

+5.7 
  



2002-03 
  

6,171 
  

-0.2 
  

+5.7 
  



2003-04 
  

6,184 
  

+0.2 
  

+5.7 
  



  Comparable information for years prior to 1998-99 is not available.

Prison Service

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive from what areas of the Scottish Prison Service budget the £13 million "underspend" originated, and whether it will list the estimated savings in each individual case.

Mr Jim Wallace: The £13 million related to 1998-99 (£12 million) comprising running costs (£7 million), other current costs (£2 million), capital (£2.5 million) and Appropriation-in-Aid (£0.5 million), and £1 million to 1997-98 related to running costs.

Prison Service

Mrs Lyndsay McIntosh (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the conclusions of the "urgent option appraisal" into the future of Low Moss Prison, Bishopbriggs will be announced.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Prison Service intend to complete their option appraisal in the spring of next year.

Social Inclusion

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it intends to introduce to improve economic and social conditions in the City of Glasgow.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Executive has made available in the excess of £1.8 billion for the city this year. We have more than doubled the number of Social Inclusion Partnerships in the city to introduce Drumchapel, Gorbals, Greater Govan, Greater Pollok, Milton and Spingburn.

  Yesterday, Jack McConnell committed the Executive to a review of deprivation indicators used in the allocation of local government resources and we welcome the new education plans, including 10 new secondaries for the city.

Sport

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Deputy Minister for Culture and Sport last met representatives of the Scottish Rugby Union and what issues were discussed.

Rhona Brankin: I met representatives of the SRU on 5 October and discussed a number of issues relating to the development of rugby. I also met SRU officials in a less formal setting when I attended matches during the Rugby World Cup.

Tax

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made or will make representations to Her Majesty’s Government regarding the impact in Scotland of the proposed Aggregates Tax.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with H.M. Government on a wide range of issues including the Aggregates Tax.

Transport

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to Her Majesty’s Government regarding the effects that the proposed privatisation of the National Air Traffic Service will have on Scotland.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is in regular touch with the UK Government over a range of matters. We support arrangements for National Air Traffic services which secure the development of the New Scottish Centre at Prestwick and which place safety at the top of the agenda.